The Joy of Family

As introduced in the March/April issue of Harvest, the Diocese of Portland has launched the Joy of the Family initiative. A specific theme featured in Amoris Laetitia (“The Joy of Love”) will be highlighted each month. Bishop Deeley encourages you, individually and as a parish, to use these resources to help protect, promote, and strengthen marriage and families in our world. To read Bishop Deeley’s column about the initiative that appeared in Harvest, visit www.portlanddiocese.org/from-thebishop-march-2017.

Each month, a release will highlight the theme including opening and closing prayers, a reading, a passage from Amoris Laetitia, a ‘contemplate’ section, intercessions, weekly suggestions for practical activities, and a reflection from an individual or individuals who possess a special personal connection to the monthly theme. These monthly releases will also appear in the Weekly Mailing.

For a list of the themes proposed for the next 18 months (adjustments might be made), visit www.portlanddiocese.org/JoyFamilyMonthlyThemes.

It is hoped developing these themes will help the faithful understand the teachings in Amoris Laetitia and inspire us all to integrate these teachings in our daily lives. A special Joy of the Family section has been created on the Diocese of Portland’s website. The section includes a wide range of resources and will be continually updated. To access the section, visit
www.portlanddiocese.org/joy-of-family.